Control apparatus.



G. H, HIL L. CONTROL APPARATUS. A'PPLIGATION FILED APR.18,1908r PatentedJuly 6, 1909.

2SHEBTS--SHE ET 1.

Fig' 2.

Fig. l.

George. H. Hil I Witnesses G. H. HILL.

' cgn'm'oL APPARATUS. nrmoufon FILED APR.18,1908.,

Patten Ed July 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R E a m; v 3&3.

L. Qx -I s sw HQQ H M fmnm .wn

Y Witnesses: I

III,

wav

45 the press.

UNITED ilTATEtti Prison moi.

GEORGE H. HILL, F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK; ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRICCOl/IFANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONTROL APEARATUS.

I Continuation of application Serial No. 330,29e,

Specification of Letters Iteten/s.

filed. August 13, 1306. This ayplication filed April 18,1908.

Fotented July a, icon.

Serial No. 427,906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE H. Him, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectadytltote of New York,- haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Control Appa' rntus, of.which the following is e specific: tion. l I

The present invention relates to means for controlling electric motorsand particularly in systems wherein it is desired to enable the Operatorto control the motor from any one of n plurality of stations, and theinvention 1151s for its object to provide a system simple inconstruction and operation where by the motor may be controlled in anyde sired way troin n singfie'stetion or from any one of a plurality ofstations by simply pressing a push-button or other form of 29 smallswitch.

The invention will be more fully understood and its objects andadvantages willmore clearly appear from the followii'ig descriptiontnereo'l taken inv connection with the accompanying drawings whcrein-Figure 1 is :1 front elevation of a mastercontroll-er arranged inaccordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a detail of, the

controile Fig, 3 is r 'leteil elevation taken "-6 on the u '5 ct i A;and Fig. i is e for governing the inaster-controller.

The system illustrated in the drawing is one particularly oriented foruse in connec tion with printing presses, wherein it is highly desirablethat the operator sholl he 40 able to start and stop the press and runit :it the low speealswhile threading in and adjusting the paper.without heing'requircd to go to a central stntion Whenever it is desiredto etiect. change in the operation of The system also arranged so as toprevent the press from being inadvertently started or its speediwcelereted oft 2r tli, operator has set the proper switch therebyrendering the nmchinery sore the operator while examining or ndgnstino"the mechanism or the paper. 1

Referringfirst to Fig. 4e. ii. compound \vonnd motor, the armaturel'tend series field 5153f 'Wlllflil ore to he shunted ivny.

rectly controls the operation of the switches position.

across variable portions of a resistance R 65 in starting and the shuntfield S of which is adopted to be weakened. or strengthened by cuttinginto or out of series with it sec tions of the resistance R At B isindicated a coil by which a brake biased to the on 00 position isreleased when the motor circu t is completed. The manner in which thisbrake coil B is energized will be hereinafter explained. C is acontroller of the separately-actuated contact type arranged to 65 firstconnect the motor armature and series field a-cross variiible portionsof resistance R and. then to short-circuit the series field and connectthe armature directly across the line.

These elements, of course, need not be in the 7G particular forms shownsince the motor may he of any desired type and have its accelerm tionand speed controlled in any desired K is a master-controller whichdiwhich make up the controller C and which varies the strength of theshunt fiel E by cutting into or out of series therewiththe resistance RThe operation of this mastercont'i'oller K is hereinafter fullydescribed.

it 1 end 2 are control stations, at each of which is located a set ofpush-buttons or other switches, by which the operation of the mastercontrhller K 1s regulated. There may he, elf-course, any nn'rnberofithese controt stations, butter the sake of sihiplicity' I hereillustrated only two. stations the switches G and G which are biased toan open position, serve as starting switches; switches, H and H alsobiased to open position,-serve as slowing down switches; switches l andI biased to a closed position, are for stopping the motor;

' n l and switches J and J-, which will remainv either closed or open,are safety switches, 9

either of which when open prevent-s starting oi? the motor it the someis at rest or increasing the speed thereof if it is operating.

The manner in which these switches G and operate will be heroine terdescribed. At t) is shown-an overload relay Which serves to throw themaster-controller to its oil thereby openiiig the switches of thecontroller in the motor circuit'excceds a certain predetermined vnluc.The source of current snppiy for the nrnniture and series field of Atthe control I H and H 1 and P and J and C, it at any time the currentswitch W servingto connect the motor cir- "cuits to this source. At Zand Z is indicated an'otor M. is indicated at L and L a suitable asource of current sup ly for the control circuits of the system ant forthe shunt field S t of the motor M. It is, of course, obvious andcontrol circuits might. be taken from the sameisource if the conditionswere suit-' able.

The mechanical construction of the master-controller is illustrated in.Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and its electrical connections diagrammaticallyindicated in Fig. 4;. This mastercontroller comprises a row offixedcontacts is which, during movement ofthe master switch, aresuccessively connected to a fixed contact- In, and plurality of fixedcontacts A, which during the movement. of the controller, aresuccessively connected to a fixed contact 72. The contacts is and 7c areengaged respectively by fingers 3 and 4 electric ally connected togetherthrough a blow-out coil. 5 mounted as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, andarranged to blow out any are which may form between the fin ers 3 and 4:and the contacts in and 7c. imilarly, contacts k ;..'1d 71: are engagedby fingers 6 and 7 con nccted together through a blow-out coil 8. The.fingers 3 and 4, 6 and 7 and blow-out coils 5 and 8 are carried by ayoke 9 which is moved in '1. vertical direction by certainclectro-magnetically operated means hereinafter described.

The operating means for the master-controller com rises an acceleratingmagnet-D, a slowingown magnet E and a holding or latching magnet F, allof which together with the other parts of the device are suitablysecured to the back Z. These magnets control the movementof the yoke 9which -carries the contacts 3, 4, (t and 7, said yoke being secured to atwthcd rod 15 which extends upwardly and is slidably arranged in asuitable guide 16. The yoke 9 may be an ranged to slide on a casing 17within which the rod 15 moves. Arranged for movement within theaccelerating magnet D is a core I] which is pivotally connected at itslower endto a dog (Z carried by and pivoted on a lever (Z pivoted to theback Z atd, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. With this arrangementenergizati'on of the coil D will cause pulling up of thecorc d andengagement of the dog d with the teeth on the right-hand side of the rod15, the operation of the arts being such that upward movement 0 the core(Z raises the rod 15 one tooth which is equal to the distance betweenthe contacts k.

'The mechanism by which the rod 15 is held in any raised position or isallowed to drop notch-by-notch, or is permitted to fall freely undertheinfluence of gravity, is

clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and '2. This mechanism comprises a casing20 surrounding the rod .15, in which casing are'pivoted at 21 and 22dogs ,1 and c which may be called, respectively, holding and slowingdown dogs. The dog f engages with the teeth on the right side of rod 15and the do c meshes with the teeth on the left side 0 said rod but thedog 6 is so arranged that .it must always, when thrown into engagementwith rod 15, engage the next tooth above that with which the dog f-hasmeshed. Also pivoted at 22 in the casing 20 is a lever c, of the formshown, which has a heel which co-acts with the extension 6 on. dog 6 ina manner hereinafter explained. The

upper extensions of the dogs f ande are connected together by'links 23,one on each and a spring f carried by the dog 7" engages a slot in theend of the core f in a manner apparent from Figs. 1 and 2. A spring 26tends to draw the dog sf and 6 together, but

the links 23 are of such a length that but one of the dogs f or 6 canengage the toothed rod 15 at once. The parts inst described are soproportioned as to weight and the strength of the springs 26 and f thatwhen magnets E and F are de'e'nergized and their cores are in'theirlowermost position, as indicated in Fig. 1, both of the dogs 6 and fwill be out of engagement with the teeth on the rod 15. In Fig. 2 thedog f is shown in engagement with the teeth on the rod 15 but this isonly because'the cores 6 and f of the magnets E and F are not exertingtheir weights upon the ends of the lever e and the dog 7' Furthermore,the length of the, link 23 is such that but one of the dogs 6 or can bein engagement with the notched rod 15 at the same time. That is, if thedog f is in engagement with the notched rod 15 the dog c will, by theengagement of the toe e with the extension e, be moved out of engagementwith the rod 15; or if the lever c be moved in a clockwise direction,therebyallowing the dog e under the influence of the spring 26 toengagethe teeth on the ro d 15, t i

e links 23 will orce the dog f out of engagement with its cooperatingteeth on the rod 15. Operation in this manner is facilitated by thespring connection f between the core f and the dog f and the lost motionconnection between the core c and the lever c. as will be apparent froman inspection of Figs. 1 and 2.

The extended end of the dog f The core (5 in rising is arranged to lifta rozi (Z carrying and-74 and one terminalof the shunt field a contactdisk which bridges contacts d, thereby interrupting the circuit throughthe magnet l), as indicated in the diagram of Fig. The rod (l' is freeto move upwardly hut is retarded in its downward movement logy means of21 clash pot d7, or in any other suitable manner. With this arrangementthe magnet D is necessarily intermittent in its operation, and,therefore, serves to operate the movable parts Of thfi master-controllerstep-hy-step in a manner hereinafter further explained. The magnet E isroudered intermittent in its action in the some manner as the magnet Dby means of a rod which is lifted by the core a and which carries acontact disk 6 arranged to bridge fixed contacts a the rod 6 beingprovided with a clash pot c which retards it in its downward movementwhile allowing it to move freely in an upward direction. A bell cranklever 1-30 of the form shovv'u-is'p ivoted at 31 to the hook Z and isarranged to be engaged by the rod and moved. from the positionillustrz-itcd in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. This increment of thelever flllOWS the contract disk to rise under the o2 influence oi"? aspring 33 bridge fixed contacts til, thereby closing circuit at thatpoint for the purpose hereinafter explained. in order to provide anupper limit stop clevice'for the rod 15 on bshepcd member 35 is arrangedfor vertical sliding movement upon pins Elli and 37 fixed to the back Z,said member ilttvillg n. projection 38 upon the 9.) front face thereofwhich is engaged by a pin 35'; projecting from the rod 15 when said 1,Within one tooth of the upper rel which is the position shown 'hen the rd. 15 is raised one er the Lshoped member 35 is as too 39 engages withand holds l position the rod cl carrying d sh (1 thereby preveirtintelling of the rod d and the closing or the circuit for the magnetDlftel the core 5 has dropped, in this We further operation of themagnet D is prevented. after it has raised the uiovuhle contacts of theinssten (Ulltl'fillGl to their uppermost position.

Referring particularly to Fig. Ii, the nrotov uud control circuits willnow he traced. The controller is made up of electromagnetic witches all)to (3-iinclusivc, of which the switches 31 to he: have their actuatingcoils connected. to the fix-ed contacts Z on the muster-cmitrollerbywires 51* to (S-i inclusive. A switch (5?,- is arranged to control thecircuit through brake releasing coil B in o. manner herciimfterdescribed. The points between the'scctious oi res" iu'nce R areconnected to the fixed contucis Z on the controller through wires to 72inclusive. Fixed couluct I? on th umHer-controller is connected to thesource Z through Wires 73 S is connected to the source Z through wire75. It is clear, theretoreflhnt the fingers ii and 7 on the umster-coutroller serve by gaging fixed contacts and during their movement, tocon'iplete the circuit through the shunt held S of the motor M and tovary the amount of resistance in this shunt field circuittherebyadjnsting the strength of this field. It is cleuifhlso that thefingers 3 and 4 during their moyeiuent connect the fixed contacts fisuccessively to the contacts k which are connected by wires 5? to illinclusive to the actuating coils of the various switches making uptli'eiinolor controller C. The actuating circuits; for all three of themaster-controller operating umgnets D, E and F derive their-current fromthe source I through wires 7% and 75, contacts of overload relay 0. Wire77, through contacts of stopping swi'tches I and I in series, to Wire78. From Wire 78, through wires 79 80 and 81 current is carried to thefixed Contact 12 and it is, therefore, apparent that this supply circuitfor the switches which make up the can iroller (Y can at any time beinterrupted by opening either of the switches l or 1 From the wire '78,throu h the safety switches c and J in series, on then, inperollelthrough contacts closed by either of switches, G or G a circuitmay betraced to wire 82 which leads through the contacts df and 65-? to theaccelerating magnet D and thenoejthrough wires 83 and 8% to the source 5Also from the wire Z8 circuits may he troe'ed, in perch 'l lthroughother contacts closed-lay the start ing switches G and G to the wire 85,

thence through wire 85,.through the holding magnet F, and wires 83 andso to the source I. Still another circuit passes from the Wire 78, inparallel through the slowingrlown switches H and H to Wire 87 end thencethrough contacts (1 and e", through the eloufiigciown rung-net E, andwires 83 12161 8% to thesource Z. The contact dish 32 which is arrangedto bridge the eontocts as soon as the master switch has raised. to the'lii'st or second notch, connects wires 2 9 shall 85 together and thuscompletes a circuit for the holding magnet F independent off thestarting switches G and G lln the or: raugei nent just described. Wire82 may he called the accelerating Wire, Wire 87 the slowing-down Wire,wire 85 the initial holdingwire and Wire 79 the permanent holding Wire.It is to be observed that with this arrangement when either of thesafety switches J or J are open the starting and accelerating switches(l and G are ineffective, but the slowing-down switches H and H and thestopping switches I and I will still perform their functions; thatopen-' ing of either stopping switches I or 1 immediately interrupts thecircuits through all of the magnets D, E and F and through the roe Ioperating coils of the switches which make up the controller C; thatclosing of eitheri slowmgdown switches H or'H energires the slowing-downinagnet E; and that clos the motor controller C in'their 0d posh tions,the'safety switches J and J closed, and the starting and acceleratingswitches G and G the slowing-down switches H and H and the stoppingswitches I and I in. their normal positions. It now the switch G isclosed the accelerating magnet D and the holding magnet F are energized.The master controller, therefore, commences t0 operateand the yoke 9carrying fingers 3, 4, 6 and 7 rises. As soon as the fingers 6 and 7engagcthe fixed contacts 70 and k the circuit through the shunt field Sis completed,

.as hereinbefore explained. {As soon as the finger'fl: engages with thefixed contact 70 and the finger 3 engages with the lowermost fixedcontact is a circuit is completed from the source Z, throughwircs 742,76, contacts of overloadrelay 0, wire 77, switches I? and I wires78, 79,80 and 81, contact k finger l,

' blow-out coil 5, finger 3, contact 70, wire 51 actuating coil ofswitch 51', wire 90, actuating coil of switch50, wire 91, actuating coilof switch 149, actuating coil of switch 65, wires'92 and 84. to thesource Z Switches 51, 50,-49E arid 65, are, therefore, closed.

- :00i1" B and releasin losing ofswitch completes a circuit from K s8Q,through wire 93, releasing coil B of the 'lbrake, switch 65 and wires92" and 84.- toithe source Z thereby energizing the brake the brake.Closing of switches 51"," 50 an 49. connects all of the resistance Racrossthe source L, L and conmeets the armature Aand series field S ofthe motor M' in shunt-to the portion a of the resistance R; Y The motorwill then be excited with compound wound fields. If the switch G be heldclosed the movable member of the master-controller K will continue torise fstep-by-step and the wires 52 53 5-1, etc.,

will be successively energized. As soon as the movable member of themaster-controller has risen 'sufiiciently (that is,.one or two notches)to cause the closing of the contacts 325113134, the holdin magnet'F willbe ren- H dared independent 0 the switch G and if this switch isreleasedat any time the master-controller' will stop in its movement and,

nemesis be held by the holding magnet F at the position'in which it thenis. Successive energization of the wires52 to 63 inclusive coinplctesthe circuit successively through the -actuating coils of the switches 52to 64 inclusive, though interlocks 49 closed by the closingof the switch49, to wire 90, thence through the actuating coil of the switch 50, wire91, actuating coil of the switch 49, actuating coil of the switch 65,and through the path previously traced to the source Z. Closing of theswitches 51 to 63 inclusive results in connecting the motor armature Aand series field S in shunt to greater and greater amounts of theresistance R until they are finally connected in shunt to all of thisresistance It except the section 1". During operation of these switches51 to 63inclusive the switches 49, 50 and 65 remain closed since thecurrent for each of the first named switches passes through theactuating coils of the latter. \Vhen, however, the wire (54 is energizedcurrent flows through the actuating coil of the switch 64, interlocks 63closed by the switch 63, directly to wire '91, and thence actuatingcoils of switches 49 and 65 and the path previously traced, the switchor being closed, which in closing completes a circuit through theinterlocks 64t in shunt to the circuit through the interlocks 63*. ASsoon, therefore, as the wire (33 is deiinergizcd by the finger 3 passingoil. the contact 70 connected to said wire, the switches 63 and 50'open. The motor armature A is then connected directly across the sourceL, L and theresistance R is disconnected from said source. if themovable element of the master-controller is moved still further'theting'cr (3 passes beyond the lowermost contact In" and-engagessuccessively with the smaller contacts k which are connected by wires 67to 72 inclusive to points between the sections of the resistance 1 andthe shunt field S is weakened by including in its circuit the resistanceB. When the fingerv 6 has reached the uppermost contact 71: furtherupward movement of the movable contact member is prevented by thelifting of the L shaped member by the pin 39 and the consequentinterruption of the control circuit -f0I Il121g net D as hereinbeforeexplained. The move ment of the movable element of the master controllerresults, therefore, in increasing the speed of the motor step-by-stefirst by 12c;

shunting its armature and series eidaround.

'a greater and greater amount of resistance connected across the source,then by cutting out the series field altogether and connecting thearmature directlyto mid source, the resistance being at the same timedisconnected, and finally by weakening the shuntflfield by interposingan increasing amount inflates!stance in the shunt field circuit: At anytime during this operation the movement of the master-controller may bestopped by simply a switches H or invention may trims, as indicated bythe terms of the opseen from tl 1e o electro-m electro'rnagnet step awayfrom the allowing the switch G to open; or the mactor-controller may bereturned ste -byetep for any number of steps toward its 0E position byclosin either oi the slowing-down stantaneously disconnected from thesource by depressing either of the stopping switches 1 or 1 an operationwhich interrogate the control circuit for the switches of controller 19C. and at the same time allows the master switch to drop unimpeded toits ofi nosi- ,ion; or the motor after being brought to a certain speedmay be revented from being accelerated to any big er speed by opening 15either of the safety switches J or 5 Although it have illustrated butone form of embodiment of my invention, ll do not desire to. be limited.to the particular form shown since in its broader aspects the present beincorporated in various pended claims.

"What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is,-

25 1 In a controllena movable centactmexn- W the off position byecontinuous movement.-

2. In a controller, a morable contactber having a tendency to return tothe? position, a holding pawl for said member, an

arranged to move said memoer a step away from the on. position wheneverit is energized, a second electrorna et' cooperating with said pawl tocatjse sai member to return a step' toward. the 9 off position when theelectro-magnet is energized, means for closing circuits through saidelectromzignets, and means associated with each electro-magnet forinterrupting 1ts'circu1t after each step of movement of said member hasbeen efiected thereby,

' 3. In a controller, a movable contact merc ber tending to assume itstoothed element connected thereto, pawl cooperating with said toothedelement,

an'electroanagnet connected to said pawl,

second electro'magnet having a movable core, a pawl carried by said coreand arranged to engage.said'toothed element to operate the saidcontroller member stepcyoil position, a third or the motor may be ingosition, an electron 01f position, a a holding electrosnagnet having amovable core, a operati'vely connected to said latter core and to theholding nasal tor releasing the controller nien'rlaer stenoy-step, meansassociated with each of the second and third mentioned elective-magnetsfor interrugting the circuitoi? each after a step of movement thereby,and switches for controlling said electro-inagnets.

a. in a controller, stationary contacts, a movable contact membercooperating therenotching'np magnet "for moving said memberstegi-loy-step in an on direction, I holding magnet for holding saidmember in any on nositioma listening-down magnet for allowinp saidmember to more step-log step in the or? direction, control circuits forsaid magnets, station switches for closing said control circuits, meanscontrolled by oi matching-down magnet as long as one movable contactmember coo crating there with and. biased to an ell position, anctcloing-up magnet for moving said contact member step-by-stepin an ondirection, a holding magnet for liolding'seid memlierin any on position,a notclnn (concreting with said holding magnet to permit the movablecontact member to retur' stepby-step in an ofi direction, controlcircuits foe said magnets, a plurality of control stations, switches atsaid control stationslw which said control circuits may be centre led,means for causing repeated operation of said notcliing-up magnet whileits controlv circuit is closed at a control station, means or causingrepeated operation of said notching-down magnet While its controlcircuit is closed at a control station, said notching np, notching-downand holding magnets being so arranged that when deenergized the movablecontact member is free to move nninterrnptedly toward. 1 its oftposition, 7 V

5. line -oantroller, stationary contacts, a movable contact membercooperating therewith and biased to an of? position,electromagnetic-ally operated notcliing-up rh'echan ism arranged to movesaid contact member step-oystep in an on direction,electron'iagneticaily operated tact member in on position or to'perwithand biased to an elf position, a

of its station switches is closed. 5. in a controller, stationarycontacts, a

holding and notching- I down mechanism arranged tohold said eonof saidcontact member has been cli'ected said stitching-op magnet forautomatically.

-down n1agnet""' as long asfthe control circuits for said'mechtion forcontrolling the control circuit for "to operate'repeatedly as long asits co ntrol circuit is closed at a control statioi'ifan d said.notching-down and, holding mechanism being arranged tdaliow said contactmember o movestep-by-step in an off direction anism are closed at one ofthe control Slit-1* tions.

72- In a controller, stationary-contacts, a inovalole contact membercooperating there with and biasedto an oft position, electromagneticallyoperated "notching-up mechanism arranged to move said contact memberstep -hy-ste in an on direction, electromagnetical y operated holdingand notohingdown mechanism arranged to hold said contact member in anyon position or to permit it to move step-by-step in an off direction,control circuits for said mechanisms, a plurality of distant controlstations, a switch at each station for controlling the control circuitfor'said notching-up. mech anism,a second switch ateacli control stasaidholding and notching-down mechanism, a third switch at each station forinterruptingthe control circuits to all of said electromagneticallyoperating mechanisms, and a fourth switch at each station for renderingthe first named switch at all stations ineffective.

movable contact member cooperating therewith and biased to an offposition, electromagnetically operated notching-up mechanism arranged tomove said contact'member step-by-step in an on direction,electromagnetically operated holdin and notching'down mechanism arrangeto hold said contact member in any on position or to circuits andthereby "the operation of said controller.

9. In a system of control, a motor, and a controller for said motorincluding a switch or push-button to gradually accelerate the motor, aswitch or puslnbuttou to gradually retard the motor, a switch orpush-button to stop the motor quickly, and a switch or a push-button forpreventing acceleration.

'ziiiisms, and a plurality of control stations 'havlng switches forcontrolling said control 10. In a system of control, a controller ar- 5ranged to be operated electrically from a distance, a plurality ofdistant control stations,

a switch at each control station for effecting movement of thecontroller step-by-step in the on direction, a second switch at eachcontrol station for effecting movement of the controller step-loy-stepin the off direction, a third switch at each station for causing theuninterrupted return of the"controllerto theftott position, and a fourthswitch at each station for rendering the first named switch at allstations ineffective.

11. In a system of control, a motor, a motor controller, a mastercontroller for governing the operation of said motor controller, andelectro-magnetic actuating and controlling means for saidmaster-controller, including switches or push-buttons which respectivelycause the master-controller to gradually accelerate and retard themotor,

and a switch for causing'the master-coutroller to operate to stop themotor quickly.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of April,1908;

- GEORGE H. HILL.

Witnesses BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN Onronn.

